Surgical chair



(No Model.) I s'sheets-sheen 2. E. J .WELLS. SURGICAL CHAIR.

N0- 576.490. Patented Feb. 2. 1897 THC mms PETERS cc, mo'rnlumo..wAsmNomN, n, c.

. UNITED STATES l.PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. WELLS, or MoREISTowN, TENNESSEE.l

SURGICAL CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 576,490, datedFebruary 2, 1897. Application filed May 28, 1896. Serial No. 593,474.(No model.)

a specification.

rlhis invention relates to chairs which are convertible into operatingtables for surgeons, and aims to provide a structure of the characteraforesaid which can be reduced to a compact form for transportation,storage, or setting aside when not required for immediate use, and whichcan be adjusted to any desired position to secure the best resultsaccording to the nature of the operation to be performed, the chaircomprising a seat, back and leg sections, a base or stand, and means foradjusting the Several parts and holding them in the located position.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the inventionreference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the followingdescription.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form,proportion, and the minor details of construction Without departing fromthe principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to afull disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in theaccompanying` drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the chair in a horizontal position and converted into a table. Fig. 2is a perspective view showing the chair in a semireclining position, amember of the leg-section dropped to the vertical, and the rest for adrainage-bowl in position to support the latter. Fig. 3 is a rear viewof the chair as it will appear when adjusted to a normal or sittingposition. Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the chair in a sittingposition by full lines and adjusted to a semireclining position bydotted lines. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the slidable connection betweenthe side arms or bars and a section of the chair. Fig. 6 is a detailview showing the manner of connecting the rest with the leg-section.Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing a different construction andarrangement of the parts comprising the base or stand and the adjustingmeans. Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the upper portion of the baseor stand and the seat of the chair illustrated in Fig. 7. r Fig. 9 showsa different means for tilting the chair laterally and holding it in anadjusted position. Fig. l0 shows the chair folded or reducedto a compactform.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in the several views of the accompanyingdrawings by the same reference-characters- The base or stand comprises atop piece l and legs 2, the latter being hinged or pivoted at theirupper ends to the top piece l, so as to admit of the structure foldingwhen it is required to reduce it to a compact form and to admit of thelower ends of the legs being spread more or less to adjust the top piecel to the required elevation, as will be readily understood. These partsmay have any required form and be plain or ornamented to suit `thecaprice of the manufacturer, and the corresponding legs will beconnected to secure strength and cause them to more in unison whenadjusting them to cause the top piece to assume an elevation accordingto the required height of the chair. A bar 3 is secured at one end to across-piece 4, connecting the front legs, and is adapted to makeadjustable connection at its opposite end with a cross-bar 5, connectingthe rear legs, whereby the two sets of legs can be spread more or lessfor the purpose aforesaid. The front end of the bar 3 has pivotal orhinge connection with the cross-piece 4, and its rear portion is formedwith a series of openings 6 to receive a pin or projection 7, providedon the cross-bar 5, whereby positive and adjustable connection is hadbetween the cross-bar 5 and the adj ustin g-bar 3. The chair proper isformed of a seat 8, back 9, and leg-section l0.and these sections arehinged or pivotally connected together and are adapted to haveindependent adj ustment, whereby any required position may be attainedto suit the condition of the patient or according to the nature of theoperation to be performed. Arms or side bars 1l are pivotally connectedintermediate of their ends with the seat-section 8 and have slidableconnection at their extremities with the back and leg sections,respectively, so that a tilting of the arms or side bars upon theirpivots will eifect a corresponding movement IOO of the back and legsections, throwing the one up and the latter down, or vice versa,according to the tilting of the arms, whereby the required position ofthe sections may be readily attained. The slidable connection betweenthe arms or side bars and the chairsections is the same in eachinstance. Hence a detailed description of the one will suffice fora fullunderstanding of each. A plate 12 is secured to the under side of thechair-section and is grooved in one side, as shown at 13, and a slot 1lis formed in the plate in coincident relation with the groove. A blockor slide 15 has pivotal connection with a terminal of an arm or side barby means of a pin 1G or like connection, and this block operates in thegroove 13, and the pin or fastening 16 travels in the slot 14. rlhepro.- vision of the block or slide 15 secures an extended bearingsurfacebetween the arm and the chair-section and prevents binding and a toorapid Wear of the slidable connection, which would result if the end ofthe pin or fastening 16 alone operated in the groove 13 or slot 14.

Itis frequently of advantage todisconnect the leg-section from the armsor side bars, whereby the said section may occupy a Vertical positionlno matter to what position the back and. seat sections maybe adjusted,and to attain this end, the end portions 1.7 of the arms or sidebarsllare made separate and independent of the main portion of the arms andare hinged or pivoted thereto, sovasto movevv radially into a verticalposition when released. independently of the main portion of thesaidfarms. Inorder that the back and leg-sections may have simul'ineousvadjustment, meansare provided for connecting the end portions17 with thebody of the arms, and, as shown,.these means consist ofl aspringplate18, firmly attached at one end. to the body of, thearmsor side bars andhaving its free end projecting across the joint formed between the part17 and themain portiony of the ar-ms andapertured, and a pinor stud 19,extending laterally from each part 17 to enter the opening in the freeendnof. the springplate.

Theleg-section. may be one piece, but it is preferred to construct it oftwo similar mem.- bersor partscorresponding tothe limbs ofA a patient,so that provisionmay behadfor supporting the limbsat differentpositions, which is of advantage when performing` operations relating toobstetrics or similar treatment. When the leg-section is in one piece,it will be provided with a. single rest, but. when formed of two partsor members each will have a rest, substantially as shown, to form a`support for a. drainage-bowl, surgical instru- Inents,.or otherappliances. This` rest 2O is in thefform of a wingV or door and closesan opening formed in the legsection, and is hinged at its lower end, soas to swing downward andoutward from its top edge. Vhen closed, the rest20 comes iiush with the outer side of the leg-section, so as not to bein the way or present any elevationA or depression to cause discomfortto the patient. Projections 21 are formed at the lower edge of the restand enter corresponding notches in the lower side of the opening, intowhich the rest fits, and a pin,.passing through the projections 21 andthe port-ion of the leg-section bordering upon the notches into whichthe said projections fit, pivotally connects the rest 2O with theleg-section. The parts are so proportioned and disposed that when therest 2O is thrown into an operative position its lower edge will engagewith the front side of the leg-section below the opening into which therest closes and hold the same in an approximately horizontal position orabout at right angles to the leg-section, thereby obviating thenecessity of providing a brace or other meansito support the rest in anoperative position.

The chair proper has connection with the base or stand, so as to becapable ot tilting longitudinally and laterally, and., as shown, ahinge- 22 is provided, and its members have connection with theseat-section and the top piece 1, respectively, one member of the hinge,as 23, havingv pivotal connection` with the top pieeel, so asl to admitof the chair tilting laterally. Thispivotal member 23has an edgeportion. curved; on` the arc of a circle whose center corresponds withthe pivot about which the member, 234 turns, and this curved edgeisformed witha series` of notches Zitto be engaged v by the end: of ahand-latch 25, fulcrumed toA the top piecel of the base and held inworking relation by means ofa spring 26. Then the latchi25=is-disengagedfrom. the hingev22, the chair canbevtilted laterally in eitherdirection, and after the desired adjustment issecured the latch 25 ispermittedy to engagewith a notch. 24:. and secure the chair in`the-located position.

Alever 27 extendstransversely of the base or stand and' is fulcrumed` atone end toa front leg, and is provided-,at its-opposite end withafoot-latch 28, whichr is adapted to engage witha notched segment orplate 29, so as to hold theA lever. iny an adjusted position, and thisAlever is. connected' intermediate of its endsvto the seat-section 8 bymeansof a bar 30, the latter,- having hinge or pivotal connection at itsextremities witl1.theparts towhich it isi'attached. Inorder toadmitofthe structure folding into a small compass, the bar 30 is formed of.two4 partswhich are hinged or pivotally connected together, and astiftener 31 is` providedto strengthen and brace the hinged;partswhenthe same arein alinement. 'llhisstiffener consists-of a stoutwire or rod havingitsendportions bentabout at rightV angles and enteringopeningsin the parts'. comprising thel bar 30 upon opposite sides oftheirhinged extremities. By aproper manipulation of the'lever27 thechair istlted longitudinally and causedto assume any: de-

sired position from a horizontalk to a=sittingj IOO IIO

the lever provision is had for admitting of the chair being tiltedlaterally without causing any binding or straining of the severalconnections.

A plate 32 is secured to the under side of f the seat-section 8 andprojects a short disy engage with any one of the notches 35, so as tohold the slide-bar in an adjusted position.

A spring 37 is provided to engage with the hand-latch and compel thesame to engage with the notches of the slide-bar. The outer portion ofthe hand-latch is conveniently situated to be readily grasped when it isrequired to disconnect the hand-latch from the slidebar to adjust thesections comprising the chair to any desired position. The pivotalconnections between the back and seat sections and the slide-bar andplate are out of alinement. Hence when adjusting the chairsections theslide-bar 33 will move relative to the back-section, and when locked theseveral sections will be held in the located position.

Referring to Fig. 7, the adjusting-bar 38 is similarly disposed to thecorresponding part 3 and is formed at its free end with a series oftransverse grooves 39 to receive the .projecting edge of a plate 40,secured to the rear cross-bar 5 of the base or stand, so as to hold theleg-sections in an adjusted position. A keeper 4l is applied to thecross-bar 5, so as to direct the adjusting-bar 38 in its movements. Anobvious construction to that just described would be to locate the freeend of the adjusting-bar 38 below the bar 5 and to invert the parts 40and 41, so that to release the adj listing-bar 38 from the plate 40 itcan be moved downward at its free end instead of upward, as shown. Thisdisposition of the parts will necessitate the provision of a spring forholding the bar38 in engagement with the plate 40, and such spring maybe of any preferred design and located as found most advantageous, andas this arrangement of the parts is perfectly obvious an illustration isnot deemed necessary, since the showing would be a mere inversion of theparts, as illustrated.

The front leg-section is retained in place by means of a hook 42 and apin or fastening 43, the hook having pivotal connection with a front legand the pin being applied to the top piece of the base or stand. Afoot-rest 44 is' hinged at its inner edge to the front legsection and isadapted to fold against the latter, and when lowered into an operativeposition its inner edge will abut against the front side of theleg-section and support the foot-rest and limit its downward movement.

The hinge connection between the chair proper and the base may have anyform so long as it will admit of the lateral tilting of the chair, and,as shown, it consists of end brackets 45 and an intermediate plate 46,the latter having its terminal portions bent about at right angles tooverlap the vertical portions of the end brackets, and a pin or rod 47,passing through coincident openings in the overlapping parts of the endbrackets and intermediate plate and forming the pivotal connectionbetween them. The end brackets 45 are secured to the top piece of thebase, andthe intermediate plate has con nection with the seat-section ofthe chair, but the result would be the same if the position of the partswere reversed. A slotted plate 48 is secured at one end to an edgeportion of the seat-section, and a binding-screw 49, having screw-threadconnection with the base or stand and operating through the slot in theAplate 48, serves to hold the latter and the chair in ,an adjusted.position. Upon loosening the binding-screw 49 the chair can be tiltedlaterally to any required position, which position when attained ispreserved by retightening the binding-screw.

In Fig. 9 is shown a somewhat different construction of the meansemployed for adjusting and securing the chair when tilted laterally, andin this case the pivotal member 50 of the hinge between the chair andbase or stand is formed with a handle or lever 51, and the 4latter isprovided with a hand-latch 52, which is adapted to engage with a notchedsegment or plate 53, secured to the base, so as to hold the handle orlever in an adjusted position. This handle 51 provides an increasedleverage, whereby the lat-eral tilting of the chair is renderedcomparatively easy and can be accomplished by one hand,thereby leavingthe other hand free for any required purpose.

It will be understood that the several sections comprising the chairproper may be :suitably upholstered or finished, according to the styleof the appliance and the purpose for which it is designed, and in orderto secure strength the edge portions of the sections may be reinforcedby metal strips, provided the said sections are constructed of wood.

The arms or side bars may be either straight or curved and may beupholstered or not, as required, and the device in its entirety may haveany configuration or be embellished according to the caprice of thedesigner.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. Thecombination with a base or stand, and a table, of a hinge connectionbetween the chair and base, and having one member firmly secured to thechair and its other mem* ber pivotally connected with the base, andmeans for turning the hinge upon its pivotal connection with the baseand securing the same positively in an adjusted position, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with a base or stand,

IOO

IIO

and a chair, of a hinge connection applied to the table and having amember pi votally connected with the base and provided with a curvedportion having a series of notches, and a latch adapted to engage withone of the series of notches and secure the pivoted member of the hingein an adjusted position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a convertible chair, the combination of a series of three sectionshinged or pivotally connected together, arms or side bars pivotedbetween their ends to the middle section and having their end portionswidened, blocks having pivotal connection with the widened terminals ofthe said arms, and plates secured to the under or rear side of the endsections and having an edge portion bent to extend at right anglesthereto, and having the bent portions dcpressed in their inner sides andlongitudinally slotted to receive the said blocks and their connectionswith the arms, substantially as set forth.

4. In a convertible chair, the combination of a seat, a leg-sectionhinged to the seat at its lower corner, a back hinged at the oppositeend to the seat at its upper corner, side bars having pivotal connectionwith the seat and slidable connection with the back andleg sections, aplate secured to the bottom side of the seat and projecting beyond therear end thereof a distance corresponding to the thickness of the back,a slide-bar pivotally connected to the projecting end of the said plate,and means for securing the slide-bar to the back, whereby the severalparts are held in an adjusted position, substantially as shown anddescribed.

5. The combination with a base or stand, and a chair having pivotalconnection therewith, of a lever, a bar interposed between the lever andchair and hinged to each and composed of parts which are hinged togetherand adapted to fold upon each other, and a stiffener to extend acrossthe joint between the parts to strengthen and brace the hinged joint,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD J. VELLS.

Witnesses:

B. F. STUBBLEFIELD, A. L. CARRIGER.

